Hypnotherapy in London
There is something that happens in the hypnotic state that ordinary conversation rarely reaches: the part of the mind that has quietly been running old patterns — stubborn fears, habitual responses, the compulsion to light a cigarette, the reflex that tightens the chest before a flight — becomes briefly available for change. That is the clinical reason hypnotherapy works, and why it sits alongside psychotherapy rather than apart from it.
Dr Jacquet and his associates offer hypnotherapy in London as an integrated modality within broader therapeutic work. Sessions take place at the Harley Street and Central London offices, and online for clients who prefer remote working. The approach is not stage hypnosis. It is precise, evidence-informed clinical work, grounded in 25 years of integrative psychotherapy practice.
What hypnotherapy actually does
The hypnotic trance is not unconsciousness. Most people in a clinical trance are aware of their surroundings, can speak, and remember the session clearly afterwards. What changes is the relationship between the conscious, analytical mind and the deeper processes that drive behaviour. In ordinary waking life, the analytical mind acts as a gatekeeper — evaluating, doubting, deflecting. In hypnosis, that gatekeeper relaxes, allowing direct dialogue with the patterns that sit below it.
For most clients, this is not a dramatic experience. It tends to feel more like a very deep relaxation, with a quality of focused attention. Some describe it as the mental equivalent of that suspended moment just before sleep, when thoughts move more freely than they do in the daytime. The therapeutic value lies in using that state to examine and revise patterns that have resisted direct willpower.
What it treats
The conditions that respond most reliably to hypnotherapy are those in which behaviour or physical response is driven by subconscious habit or fear rather than considered choice. Smoking is the paradigm case: most smokers know exactly why they should stop, and the knowledge changes nothing. Phobias work the same way. Fear of flying is not resolved by understanding aircraft safety statistics. The fear is maintained by a reflexive process that predates reason, and hypnotherapy addresses it at that level.
Within the London practice, hypnotherapy is used for smoking cessation, weight and appetite management, phobias including fear of flying, performance anxiety and public speaking, building confidence, procrastination, and as a support within eating disorder treatment. It is also offered for athletes working with mental blocks around performance. In each case, hypnotherapy works best as part of an integrated approach — sitting alongside psychotherapy where deeper psychological patterns need exploration.
What to expect in a session
An initial consultation will usually last around 50 minutes. The aim is to understand the presenting issue in enough depth to design the hypnotic work appropriately — what the pattern is, when it started, what triggers it, what has previously been tried. This is clinical assessment rather than a preliminary formality.
Hypnotherapy sessions themselves typically last between 50 and 90 minutes depending on what is being addressed. Most presentations require several sessions; smoking cessation may be completed in fewer, while more complex patterns require a longer course. During the session, you remain fully in control. Nothing is done without your knowledge, and nothing is suggested that you have not explicitly agreed to.
Why choose Dr Jacquet and Associates
The principal clinician, Dr Jacquet, trained in hypnotherapy within the context of a 25-year integrative psychotherapy practice. He holds a Doctorate of Professional Studies — he is the only person in Europe to have received a doctorate specifically on male eating disorders — and is an EMDR practitioner with over 20 years of experience and trained art psychotherapist. The depth of this background matters in hypnotherapy: the technique is more effective when the clinician understands the psychological architecture beneath the presenting problem.
Associates are selected on the same basis: qualified psychotherapists or counsellors who have integrated hypnotherapy into broader clinical training, rather than hypnotherapists working without a psychotherapy foundation. This distinction is not a marketing point. It is the structural reason the work tends to go deeper than a single technique would allow.
Online and in-person sessions
Hypnotherapy for most presentations works effectively online. The hypnotic state can be induced in a video session with the same reliability as face-to-face work, provided there is a quiet environment and a reliable connection. In-person sessions are available at the Harley Street office (W1G) and the Central London office, both with discrete entry and exit.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone be hypnotised?
The great majority of people can enter a clinically useful hypnotic state. A small minority are more resistant, usually due to high anxiety or difficulty relinquishing cognitive control. This is something that can be assessed and usually worked around in the first session.
Is hypnotherapy safe?
Clinical hypnotherapy as practised by qualified psychotherapists carries no known risks when conducted appropriately. You cannot be made to do or say anything against your will.
How many sessions will I need?
This depends on what is being addressed. Smoking cessation typically requires one to three sessions. Phobias may resolve in two to four. Patterns bound up with wider psychological history are usually addressed over a longer course integrated with psychotherapy.
Does hypnotherapy work online?
Yes, for most presentations. The induction works via video, and the majority of clients find the experience indistinguishable from in-person work in its quality and effect.